The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-08
AFTER THE ELECTION.
Lincoln at the Polls as Presidential
Candidate.
New York Sun ]

New York Sun
Election day came and passed quietly
enough. A little before the closing of the
polls Mr.. Lincoln sent a message to my
hotel reminding me that he had promised
he would not 60 to vote without me, and
saying that he was now ready. There was
not much to be made of the incident for
newspaper purposes. He had cast too
many ballots in the same place for the con.
ventional proceedings to excite curiosity
now, presidential candidate though he was.
He was cheered q little, rather perfume.
torilY, and few spectators-the fugacious
Job among them, no doubt-looked on
while he tore away the list of electors
from the printed Republican ticket and
deposited the balance of the slip. 1 re-
member my disappointment at not finding
material enough in the transaction for
more than few lines of description. Bat
then belonged to the old school OF jour
nalism. Your modern special correspond
ent would ask no better basis for continu-
Gus pages of brilliant narrative-more
power to his nimbIe fingers and still more
nimbIe Imagination.
as was to have been expected, the night
following the election was the most excit-
ing of my visit. The great result had long
been past doubt, but there was none the
less eagerness to learn the details. The
little telegraph office In the center Of the
Town was a scene of the liveliest interest
though only q few individuals were per-
mitted to invade its privacy and get the
news fresh from the wires.
AS an inevitable consequence, reports OF
the most gigantic and impossible dimen
sions circulated outside. The Southerners
in Washington had set fire to the capital.
JEFF Davis had proclaimed rebellion in Mis-
sissippi, and Douglass had been seized as a
hostage in Alabama. Blood was running
in the streets of New York and could not
be stopped. The negroes OF Virginia had
been in instruction. Buchanan had re-
signed the presidency. Any person emery
ing from the Telegraph station and denying
these and kindred rumors was set down as
having his own reasons for concealing the
dreadful truth. As for Mr.. Lincoln, it
was, of course, preposterous to look to him
for a sqnare statement or any statement OF
the facts. The privileged half dozen who
went freely in and out, being unable to
confirm the catalogue of horrors, Became
extremely unpopular, and were compelled
to listen to un1atteriDg remarks concern
ing their character, vocation, manners and
appearance.
The President-elect came frequently to
learn the incoming intelligence, but it was
not until a comparatively late hour that
anything except formal returns began to
arrive. There was a little gathering of
friendly neighboIs in hall not far distant,
ladies' OF her acquaintance, enjoying share
Of the triumph. Once or twice her hus-
band looked in upon this party, but did
not long remain. Toward midnight tele-
graphic messages addressed directly to
him commenced to take the place of the
regular public dispatches. Mr.. Cameron
was heard from more than once with re-
spect to the vote of Pennsylvania. Words
of coDgratulation and cheer came from
various Republican leaders in the North
ern States. By and by the operators voice
was heard in less exuberant tone, reading
out the announcement:
Hammond and Chestnut, of South
Caroline, have resigned from the U nited
States Senate"
1t was the first note of discord to inter
rupt the general rejoicing-the first fore
warning OF the shadow to all this bright
ness. 1t was unexpected, too; and coming
in the midst Of tempest of enthusiasm.
sent disagreeable chill through most of
those who listened. A few hours later 1t
would not have produced so ugly a shock.
l locked at Mr.. Lincoln, wondering il this
sharp reminder would bring up any sign OF
deeper consciousness than he had thus
far shown. There was none. He received
it with the same smile he had worn ali the
evening while hearing the reiterated con-
firmations of his success. Was it insensi-
bility? He fingered yet little longer,
then went out into the street, whence he
did not return-at least, not while l re-
NAMED in the vicinity. Looking forth,
once or twice, 1 saw him walking slowly
up and down, quite alone, the thorough
fares being by that time deserted.
Presently started for my hotel with one
OF the citizens who had slso Iited until
near the last. Asws pas ed the solitary
figure we exchanged leave kings, and my
companion observed:
Quick work for those South Carolina
Senators, wasn't it2 Turned tail as soon
as they got the news"
There are plenty left" answered Mr..
Lincoln. "a little while ago saw a couple
OF shooting stars fall down, kissing and
suffering. Plenty left for many bright
night"
Excepting for a formal farewell, did
not again see him in Springfield, and can
remember that those few midnight words.
although weighted with no evidence of
especial seriousness, had a measurable
effect in softening the impression pro-
duced by his persistent laughing humor.
1t was, think, the first observation had
heard from him in which no jest was i'm
piled. Strange as it seems to me now,
I look over the abundant notes 1
have preserved of that visit, during viii ch
1 saw Mr.. Lincoln daily for more than a
week, and often hours at a time without
finding the faintest foreshadowing of the
character in which he afterward revealed
himself Had any disaster interviewed to
prevent his inauguration In 1861, should
never have known how to persuade myself
that the nation had suffered an irreparable
loss. Was it because of my incaDacity to
see beneath the surface7 Was it because
be chose to wear mask2 Or was 1t, as l
grew to believe, that the Lincoln of the
war did not then exist? / shall try to
draw DC further differences, but leave the
question unsettled as 1t stands now in my
m, IA Of tuontv.fhrao vaoro